Rod feeding collet



Feb. 23, 1932. .G. M. SMITH ROD FEEDING COLLET Filed May 22, 1930 INVENTOR 6 Jmzm, BY

' ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT osslce GEORGE M. SMITH, OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE EASTERN MACH. SCREW CORPORATION, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT ROD FEEDING COLLET Application filed May 22,

My invention relates to rod feeding collets adapted for use in various types of machines, particularly metal working machines, for in termittently feeding the stock for successive machining operations, and it is especially adapted for small stock. Its object being to simplify the collet construction by reducing the number of elements usually employed in alternately gripping and releasing the stock, and it consists of a tubular stock gripping member of suflicient flexibility to feed the same without slipping or marring the stock, and to retreat the collet without perceptible wear on the gripping member.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a view of the body of the collet- Figure 2 is a central sectional view of the body and a full view of the gripping sleeve member within the bore of the body and in its normal position when not in use- Figure 3 is a central sectional view of the collet body, broken view of a rod extending therethrough on which is mounted the expanded gripping sleeve- Figure 4 is an end view of the gripping sleeve Figure 5 is a central sectional view of the gripping sleeve on line 55 of Figure 1 'Figure 6 is a view of the gripping sleeve member showing one of the several slots or kerfs formed therethrough to increase the flexibility of the member, and

Figures 7 and 8 are difierent views of a modification gripping member.

1 represents the body of the collet having the threaded end 2 adapted to connect with the usual reciprocating mechanism, not shown, 3 is a nut seated against the threaded mouth ofv the collet body and it has the bore 4 corresponding in size and in alignment with the bore 5 of the body for the reception and guiding of the feeding stock.

The gripping member comprises the elongated stock gripping section 6 and the cone shaped ends 7 and 8. This gripping member is split on one side by the kerf 9, which kerf will be closed when the member is fully con- 50 tracted as shown in Figure 2. The shell 1930. Serial No. 454,607.

formation of the gripping member, see Figure 5, is of equal thickness throughout in order to give a more uniform flexibility of contraction and expansion throughout the entire structure, as well as to provide flaring mouths 10, 11, at each end of the gripping member for an easy entrance of the feeding stock.

When the gripping member is detached from the stock, it will lie in the chamber or bore 12 of the body 1 and out of direct alignment with the axis of said body in readiness for the entrance of the feeding stock, represented by the rod 13, which rod may be entered at either end of the shell 1. As soon as the end of the rod engages a flared mouth of the gripping member it will tilt the same sufficient to bring the end of the rod in alignment with the bore 14, through which bore the rod will be forcibly carried and will expand the gripping member until its cones 7 and 8 contact with the side walls of the chamber 12 and thus increase the tension on the rod. The space between the end wall 15 and the nut 3 is just sufficient to permit free expan- 7 sion and contraction of the gripping member.

16, Figures d, 5 and 6, are slots formed through the sides of the gripping member and in spaced relation with the kerf 9 to more evenly distribute the gripping contact 89 about the periphery of the section 6.

The modified gripping member, Figures 7 and 8, presents the same general configuration as shown in the other views, but the flexibility is not so evenly distributed. The gripping feature consists of the elongated tongues 17 and 18. In Figure 7, the tongue 17 is an integral part of the end cone 7 and the opposed tongue 18 is integral with the cone 8, Figure 8.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is A stock feeding collet comprising a rigid body having a stock guiding bore at one end and a larger bore at the opposite end, a nut closing the mouth of said larger bore to form an enclosed chamber within the collet body and having a stock guiding bore aligned with the stock guiding bore of said collet body, a tubular member split onone side and having an elongated stock gripping section and enlarged conical ends, said conical ends brought into forcible contact with the Wall of said chamber by the internal pressure of the feeding stock to increase the gripping contact of the tubular member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GEORGE M. SMITH. 

